Ladder attachment for use with aluminum siding



Dec. 31, 1968 D. G. COSTLOW ET AL 3,419,109

LADDER ATTACHMENT FOR USE WITH ALUMINUM SIDING Filed July 21, 1967 Sheet9 bqrui I/ WW &

Dec. 31, 1968 0. G. COSTLOW ET AL 3,419,109

LADDER ATTACHMENT FOR USE WITH ALUMINUM SIDING Sheet 2 of2 Filed July21, 1967 INVENTORS.

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ATTORNEYS Fig. 10

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An attachment for ladders including apressure bar with rubber-like pad for contact with the siding, andhaving two adjustable brackets thereon for receiving the upper endportions of the rails or stiles of a ladder, with means for temporarilyconnecting the same to the upper end of a ladder to prevent damage toaluminum siding, and two removable wings upon the pressure bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field the invention One of the problemsencountered during and after installation of aluminum siding uponbuildings is the denting or otherwise damaging of the siding by laddersresting against the same in completing the installation, or by theladders of other workmen such as telephone or electric power servicemenin installing telephone or electric power service.

In a great majority of instances where aluminum siding is installed, ithas been found that the siding is damaged shortly after installation bythe ladders of telephone or electric power servicemen in establishingtelephone or electric power service through the siding.

Aluminum siding is generally applied either to sheeting on a new housewall, or to previously installed siding upon an old house. Usuallyvertical furring strips are applied to the sheeting or the old siding.The tuning strips are usually typical wooden lath and may be installedon 12 inch centers up to twenty inch centers, although they arepreferably spaced the same distance as the stud spacing. The aluminumsiding is then applied over the furring strips, and if the upper ends ofthe ladder rails or stiles rest against the siding, particularly betweenfurring strips, the siding will be dented thereby.

Description of the prior art In the vast various attachments have beenprovided for the upper ends of ladders, none of which was intended forthe purpose for which applicants invention is adapted, namely for usewith aluminum siding and nothing in the prior art discloses removablewing sections for a pressure bar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the past various attachments have beenprovided for as comprising a ladder attachment consisting of a pressurebar of sufficient length to span a pair of vertical furring strips ofminimum spacing, with wings removably attached to the ends of thepressure bar to increase the length thereof to span a pair of tuningstrips of maximum spacing.

A spaced pair of brackets are adjustably mounted upon the pressure barand carry clamping means for receiving the upper ends of the rails orstiles of a ladder, means being provided for adjusting these bracketsupon the pressure bar to accommodate ladders of .dilierent widths.

Each of these clamps is pivotally mounted upon the corresponding bracketand comprises a channel portion adjustable to accommodate differentwidths of ladder nited States Patent 0 rails or stiles. Each clamp alsoincludes an L-shaped member adapted to engage over the upper end of theadjacent rail or stile of the ladder.

For the purpose of preventing the attachment from becoming disconnectedfrom the upper end of the ladder, a chain or similar flexible element isconnected at opposite ends to the two brackets and a second chain or thelike is connected at one end to the mid-portion of the first chain,theother end thereof being adapted to be wrapped around an upper rung ofthe ladder and having a harness snap or the like thereon for connectionto an intermediate portion of the chain for holding the attachment uponthe top of a ladder.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a ladderattachment for use upon aluminum siding including a pressure bar ofsufficient length to span a pair of furring strips of minimum spacingwith two removable wing sections for the pressure bar adapted to span apair of furring strips of maximum spacing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ladder attachment of thecharacter referred to, including a pair of clamps adjustably mountedupon the pressure bar for engaging the rails or stiles of ladders ofdifferent widths, each bracket including a channel portion adjustable tofit upon ladder rails or stiles of different widths.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a ladder attachmentin which each clamp includes an upwardly disposed L-shaped memberadapted to engage over the top of the adjacent rail or stile of theladder.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a ladder attachment ofthis type in which the clamps are pivotally connected to the pressurebar so as to permit the ladder to be placed at various angles to thewall.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a ladder attachmentin which a flexible element is connected to the brackets and adapted tobe looped around an upper rung of the ladder for preventing theattachment from becoming accidentally disconnected from the ladder.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from thedrawings and following description or which may be later referred to maybe attained by constructing the improved ladder attachment in the mannerhereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a ladderattachment embodying the invention with the detachable wings connectedto opposite ends of the pressure bar;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the detachable wings removed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one end portion of thepressure bar showing one wing attached thereto and showing oneadjustable bracket and clamp;

FIG. 4 is a detached perspective view of one of the removable wings;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 55, FIG.2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of the upper portion of a ladderwith the improved attachment connected to the upper end thereof showingthe ladder in use against an aluminum siding wall;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 77, FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail section taken on the lac 88, FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a detached perspective view of one of the L-shaped swingingside braces forming a part of the clamp for one ladder rail or stile;and

FIG. 10 is a detached perspective view of the adjustable angle memberforming the other part of the clamp.

3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now moreparticularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, in whichsimilar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, aportion of a wall of a building is shown in FIG. 7 comprising the usualstuds 1, sheeting 2, vertical furring strips 3 and aluminum siding 4.

The furring strips may be typical wooden lath, and while they arepreferably installed on 16 inch centers, the same as the stud spacing,they may be installed on 12 inch centers, especially in restrictedspaces, and sometimes are installed on the wall surface on up to 20 inchcenters. In FIG. 6 the furring strips 3 are shown as on the minimumspacing or 12 inch centers.

As above mentioned, one of the problems encountered during and afternormal installation of aluminum sliding, is the denting and damaging ofthe siding by ladders resting against the siding in completinginstallation thereof, or in the establishing of telephone or electricpower service through the siding by telephone or electric powerservicemen.

The ladder attachment of the invention includes a pressure bar generallyindicated at 5, which, as shown in FIG. 6, may be of a length to spanfurring strips installed on minimum spacing of 12 inch centers, so thata ladder with the attachment thereon may be used in restricted areasupon a Wall.

This pressure bar may be formed of any suitable material, preferablyaluminum, and is provided upon its rear surface with a pad of rubber orthe like as indicated at 6, to prevent scratching or marring thealuminum siding when the pressure bar rests against the same, and alsoto reduce slippage.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, similar wing sections, indicated generallyat 7, are removably connected to the ends of the pressure bar. Each wingsection is formed of the same material and is of the same width andthickness as the pressure bar and is provided on its rear surface with arubber pad 6'.

Each wing section 7 has a projecting ear 8 rigidly connected thereto asby bolts 9, nuts 10, washers 11 and lock washers 12. The end of each ear8 is slotted, as indicated at 13, so that it may be received over a bolt14 in the adjacent end portion of the pressure bar and removablyconnected to the pressure bar as by the nut 15, Washer 16 and lockWasher 17.

The wings 7 are interchangeable and normally form part of the pressurebar to give the maximum length, although either or both wings may beremoved where the upper end of the ladder must re:t against a wall in arestricted space.

An L-shaped bracket 18 is adjustably mounted upon each end portion ofthe pressure bar 5. For this purpose elongated slots 19 are formed inthe bracket 18, which slots receive the bolts 20 located throughapertures 21 in the pressure bar 5. The heads 22 of these bolts arelocated in recesses 23 formed in the rear side of the pressure bar.

A nut 24, washer 25 and lock washer 26 are provided upon each bolt 20for rigidly mounting each L-shaped bracket 18 in adjusted position uponthe pressure bar.

It should be understood that each of the bolts 9 and 14 is mounted inthe pressure bar 5 in a manner similar to the bolts 20, with the headsthereof received in recesses in the rear side of the pressure bar. Sincethis construction is the same as shown in FIG. 8 it is not thoughtnecessary to illustrate similar sectional views taken through the bolts9 and/or 14. With this construction it will be obvious that the brackets18 may be adjusted toward and away from each other to accommodatedifferent widths of ladders as will be later described.

An adjustable clamp, for clamping upon the adjacent rail or stile of theladder, is pivotally mounted upon the out-turned angular arm 27 of eachbracket 18. Each of these clamps includes the L-shaped swinging brace 28having an aperture 29 in the end portion of it; longer leg whichreceives the pivot bolt 30 located through a suitable aperture 31 in theangular arm 27.

A Washer 32, lock washer 33 and nut 34 are mounted upon the bolt 38 forpivotally mounting each swinging brace 28, The swinging brace 28 has anangular arm 35 at its outer end which forms one of the jaws of theclamp, as will be later described, and the long arm thereof is providedintermediate its ends with a plurality of aperturcs 36 for selectivelyreceiving a bolt 37 for adjusta-bly mounting the angle member 38.

This angle member has a slot 39 through which the bolt 37 is located sothat the angular arm 40, which forms the other jaw of the clamp, may beadjusted toward or from the jaw 35 to fit upon the adjacent rail orstile 41 of a ladder, indicated generally at 42 in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The clamping attachment also includes an upwardly disposed L-shapedswinging top bracket 43, the lower end of which is mounted and clampedupon the bolt 37 by the nut 44 which clamps the clamping members 28 and38 together. Suitable washers and lock washers may be provided upon thebolt 37 as shown on the other bolts above described.

The angular upper arm 45 of the top bracket 43 is adapted to contact theupper end of the ladder rail or stile which is clamped between theclamping members 28 and 38. If desired, a horizontally disposed flange46 may be welded or otherwise connected to the arm 45 as indicated at 47so as to contact substantially the entire upper end of the ladder railor stile.

For the purpose of securing the attachment to the upper end of a ladderand preventing accidental displacement thereof, a chain 48 is connectedat its ends to the bolts 37 and a second chain 49 is connected at itsupper end to the mid-portion of the chain 48.

The chain 49 may be wrapped around an upper rung 50 of the ladder, asshown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and is provided on its end with a harness snapor the like, as indicated at 51, for connection to a link of the chainfor securing the same upon the ladder. A turnbuckle 52 may be providedin the chain 49 for adjusting the length thereof as may be required.

From the above it will be seen that the device is adjustable to variouswidths of ladders by adjusting the positions of the brackets 18longitudinally upon the pressure bar 5 by means of the bolts 20 and nuts24.

It will also be seen that each clamp may be adjusted to accommodate thewidth of the ladder rails 41 by means of the plurality of apertures 36in the side brace 28 through any of which the bolt 37 may be selectivelylocated and by the slots 39 in the angle member 38 of the clamp.

It will also be seen that through the pivots 30 for the clamps they maybe adjusted to accommodate the angle at which the ladder is placedagainst a wall, and the pressure bar 5 may be adjusted to the correctangle so that it may rest against the aluminum siding as shown in FIG.7.

It will also be seen that the attachment, with the removable wingsthereon, is adapted to span furring strips of maximum spacing, and withthe wings removed may be placed in restricted areas on a wall and at thesame time span furring strips of minimum spacing, and that theattachment may be easily and readily attached to or removed trom aladder as desired.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because suchwords are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to bebroadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated anddescribed herein are by way of example, and the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, theoperation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and theadvantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and usefulconstruction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious tothose skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An attachment for a ladder having rails and rungs for use uponaluminum siding mounted upon spaced vertical furring strips, saidattachment comprising a horizontally disposed pressure bar, a spacedpair of longitudinally adjustable brackets upon said pressure bar, meansfor clamping said brackets in adjusted positions to accommodate laddersof different widths, a swinging brace pivotally mounted upon eachbracket, clamping means upon each swinging brace, means for adjustingsaid clamping means to fit ladder rails of different widths, a topbracket connected to each swinging brace and adapted to contact the topof an adjacent ladder rail, and means connected to the attachment forengaging a rung of a ladder for holding the attachment upon a ladder.

2. An attachment for a ladder as defined in claim 1, in which each ofsaid longitudinally adjustable brackets is L-shaped and thecorresponding swinging brace is pivotally mounted upon the shorter legthereof by means of a bolt, nut and washers.

3. An attachment for a ladder as defined in claim 1, in which eachswinging brace is L-shaped, and in which the clamping means includes anangle member mounted on the longer leg of the L-shaped swinging braceand adjustable toward and from the shorter leg thereof.

4. An attachment for a ladder as defined in claim 1, in which the meansfor holding the attachment upon a ladder comprises a chain connected atits ends to the longitudinally adjustable brackets and a second chainconnected at one end to the center of the first chain and having aharness snap at its other end. 1

5. An attachment for a ladder as defined in claim 1, in which thepressure bar is of a length sufficient to span two furring strips ofminimum spacing, and in which a removable wing is detachably connectedto each end of the pressure bar, the overall length of the pressure barand wings being sufficient to span two furring strips of maximumspacing.

6. An attachment for a ladder as defined in claim 5, in which each winghas an ear at its inner end, said ear having a slot therein receiving aclamping bolt upon the adjacent end portion of the pressure bar.

7. An attachment for a ladder as defined in claim 5, in which each ofsaid longitudinally adjustable brackets is L- shaped and the swingingbraces are L-shaped and are pivotally mounted upon the shorter legs ofthe brackets by means of bolts, nuts and washers, and in which theclamping means includes an angle member mounted on the longer leg of theL-shaped swinging brace and adjustable toward and from the shorter legthereof. 1

8. An attachment for a ladder as defined in claim 7, in which thepressure bar is of a length sufiicient to span two furring strips ofminimum spacing, and in which a removable wing is detachably connectedto each end of the pressure bar, the overall length of the pressure barand wings being suflicient to span two furring strips of maximumspacing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,993,562 7/1961 Hussey 182-2143,268,196 8/1966 Anton 182214 3,288,249 11/1966 Gibson 182-214 REINALDOP. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

